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£t»tt »{ $foofle UalMtl and ivwiaiw* $I»tttati<w0. 

REYISED EDITION 

OF THE 

METHODS OF PROTECTING AND PROPA- 
GATING THE LOBSTER, ' 

WITH 

A BRIEF OUTLINE OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY, 

PLATJKS IV.— XXIV. 



EARNEST W. BARNES, 

Superintendent of the Wickford Experiment Station. 



1910. 

Reprinted from the Forty-First Annual Report of the Commissioners of the 
Inland Fisheries of Rhode Island. 



PROVIDENCE : 

B. L. FREEMAN COMPANY, PRINTERS TO THE STATE, 

mil. 



APPENDIX A. 



REVISED EDITION 



METHODS OF PROTECTING AND PROPA- 
GATING THE LOBSTER. 



WITH 



A BRIEF OUTLINE OF ITS NATURAL HISTORY. 



PLATES IV.— XXIV. 



EARNEST W. BARNES, 

Superintendent of the Wiekford Experiment Station. 



PROVIDENCE : 

E. L. FREEMAN COMPANY, PRINTERS TO THE STATE, 
1911. 



0. OF & 

FEB 20 \912 






ft 



TABLE OF CONTENTS. 



Preface to Revised Edition 87 

Introduction ., 89 

I. Natural History of the Lobster 91 

1. Distribution 91 

2. Natural Home and Migrations 92 

3. Food 93 

4. Length of Life 93 

Table of Probable Rate of Growth, by Dr. P. B. Hadley 95 

5. Molting and Growth 96 

6. Regeneration 96 

7. Sexual Maturity . . . , 97 

8. Spawning Habits 97 

9. Larval Stages 98 

10. Adolescent Period 99 

11. Some Peculiar Means of Self-Preservation 99 

12. Sensibility to Light 100 

13. Enemies 100 

14. Decrease in Abundance of Lobsters 101 

II. Methods Employed to Prevent Extermination 102 

Introduction 102 

A. Legal Restrictions 102 

1. Protection of Egg Lobsters 102 

2. Protection of Immature Lobsters 102 

3. Protection of Large Lobsters 103 

4. A Double Limit 104 

5. Close Time 104 

6. Prevention of Mutilation 104 

7. Further Regulations 104 

8. Tabulation of Lobster Laws, 1910 105 



86 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

B. Artificial Hatching 107 

C. Hatching and Rearing as Developed by the Rhode Island Commission. 

1. Introduction and General Plan 108 

2. Structure of the Floats 110 

3. Engines and Gearing 110 

4. Construction and Care of the Rearing Boxes 112 

5. Construction and Adjustment of the Paddles 114 

6. Obtaining the Egg Lobsters 116 

7. Hatching the Eggs 118 

8. Feeding the Fry 119 

9. Length of Time Required to Reach the Fourth Stage 121 

10. Liberation of the Lobsterlings 121 

Liberation of the Fourth Stage along the Shore 122 

Liberation of Fifth and Later Stages. 123 

Liberation in Specially Devised Cars 123 

11. Liberation of the Egg Lobsters 124 

12. The Conditions most Essential for the Location of a Rearing Plant . . 125 

13. Cost of a Rearing Plant 126 

14. Results Obtained 126 

15. Table of Number of Fourth and Fifth Stages Liberated since 1900 . . 127 



PREFACE TO THE REVISED EDITION. 



Since publishing the original article which appeared in the Annual 
Report of the Commissioners of Inland Fisheries for the year 1906. 
the lobster rearing at the Wickford Experiment Station has continued 
under the writer's personal superintendence. The changes in appara- 
tus and methods, which have been almost without exception the re- 
sults of his own devising, have been so considerable that it has been 
thought best to bring them together. As it is necessary, in order to 
make the subject more easily understood, to give a rather detailed 
account of the process of rearing lobsters at Wickford, it has been 
decided to follow the plan of the original paper, incorporating into it 
the changes and successes which have attended the work since 1906. 

The principal changes in apparatus and methods to be noted since 
the previous article are: — 

The substitution of durable wooden boxes to replace the unreliable 
canvas bags, and the necessary devices attendant upon this change. 

The adoption of a unit system of raft structure, which makes a 
great extension of the apparatus possible. 

Changes in the gearing and shaft arrangement which greatly re- 
duce the loss of power in the long lateral extensions. 

Devices for easily and quickly handling the rearing boxes. 

A method of handling the hen lobsters while they are hatching their 
eggs, which very closely follows natural conditions and gives uniform 
and excellent results in the rearing cars. 

Extending the rearing beyond the fourth stage. 

A more effectual method of liberation. 



88 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

An economical and practical mechanical feeding device. 
The adoption of a most practical and economical food — hen's eggs. 
Many slight changes, including shade adjustment, copper painting 
the cars, and other factors of importance in the economy of rearing. 

Earnest W. Barnes, 

Superintendent of the Wick ford Experiment Station. 



INTRODUCTION. 



The success in lobster culture attained by the Commission of Inland 
Fisheries, at their experiment station, at Wickford, is one of those 
few remarkable successes in artificial marine culture which have been 
reached through a long course of slow and, at times, disheartening 
experiments. The ordinary method employed in the artificial 
propagation of fishes, the mere hatching the eggs, has been of little 
avail in the case of the lobster. Its failure may be stated, briefly, 
as due to two causes: The first, and most important of these, is the 
slow growth of the lobster, which greatly lengthens the time required 
to reach maturity and propagate itself naturally; the second is the 
prolonged period of larval helplessness. 

If we leave out of consideration the helpless larval period we find 

that the lobster, in its natural state, is not materially handicapped in 

its struggle for maintenance, except in the particular fact of its slow 

growth. With reference to the natural advantages it might be stated 

that its life on the sea bottom, together with the instinct of hiding in 

burrows in the mud or under rocks, affords much better protection 

than fishes seem to possess. Besides, there is perhaps no external 

part, unless it is the eye, which can be lost or injured without the 

lobster being able to replace it. The loss of a fin or the upturning of 

a few scales, will often be sufficient cause for the death of a fish. 

The lobster also has the advantage of having its eggs more surely 

fertilized and afterwards cared for by the parent until hatched. The 

eggs of most fishes are thrown into the water, and depend on chance 

fertilization and favorable circumstances for their fostering. But 

against the human foe the lobster is powerless, and there has been a 

rapid decrease in its abundance since there was a demand for it in the 

market. 

12 



90 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

Because the lobster possesses, in a high degree, natural advantages 
for protecting itself, except it its larval helplessness, it seemed neces- 
sary to adopt some measure of rearing them through this latter 
period. For more than a quarter of a century experiments were 
pushed with vigor by the various States, the United States Govern- 
ment, and also by European governments. The many difficulties, 
however, prevented success till 1900, when the honor of having of- 
f erred the first and, up to the present time, the only solution of the 
problem was won by the Rhode Island Commissioners of Inland Fish- 
eries, at Wickford. It took, nevertheless, after the discovery of the 
principle, five years of slow and tedious experiments to develop the 
scheme to the point where it was practical and economical, even on 
a small scale. However, during the past five years the methods 
have been so much improved that it is not only much more eco- 
nomical and practical, but it has also become possible to extend the 
plant to almost any desired limit. 

Furthermore, the results have been very satisfactory. Seventy 
per cent, in round numbers (69 per cent, actually) have been reared 
from the first to the fourth stage from a counted lot of 10,000. It is 
in this stage that the fry commence to burrow and are, therefore, 
more able to care for themselves. These figures will be appreciated 
when it is recalled that the best result in Europe was 6.6 per cent. 
starting with 1,500 fry in the second stage; and in this country, 21 
per cent., from an estimated 3,000 fry in the first stage at the U. S. 
Bureau of Fisheries, at Woods Hole, Mass. 

But it was soon discovered that it was not sufficient to success- 
fully rear the lobster fry to the fourth stage. In the first place, while 
it is true that at this stage the lobsterlings do go to the bottom, and 
also true that they are immensely more capable of surviving than 
when in the first three larval stages, yet the swimming habit is not 
completely abandoned and therefore it was considered desirable to 
rear the young lobster to a later stage — fifth or sixth stage. Fur- 
thermore, as important as it is to be able to rear them successfully to 
the "bottom" stages, it is of equal importance to get them safely 
established in the ocean bottom. 



APPENDIX. 91 

In both these directions the efforts of the Commission have met 
with great success, and while each year will undoubtedly see further 
improvements in methods and results, yet it may safely be said that 
the future changes will be in the nature of increased efficiency in 
detail of the work and also in the ability to rear to still later stages, 
if not to the adult stage. This is, without doubt, the ultimate goal 
of lobster rearing, and indeed a more successful solution of the problem 
of lobster supply can scarcely be thought of than the making it 
possible for a lobster dealer to raise his own lobsters. The pro- 
ductivity of the lobster is so great (from 8,000 to over 150,000 eggs 
per lobster) that could a plan of rearing to the adult size be proven to 
be successful, the future supply would be at once assured. 

For the benefit of those who are interested in the practical side of 
lobster culture, and who may not have followed the development of 
the plan as given in previous reports, a brief consideration of the 
lobster culture work is here given, which, while it does not pretend to 
be more than an outline of the subject, yet will go somewhat into 
detail concerning the methods use at Wickford. 

I. NATURAL HISTORY OF THE LOBSTER. 

1. DISTRIBUTION. 

The American lobster is found along the Atlantic coast from 
Labrador to Delaware. It attains its largest size and is most abund- 
ant in the northern half of this range (Nova Scotia and Maine.) It 
is found in all depths up to 100 fathoms. In deeper water than this 
it is very rarely found, though sometimes reported from fishing banks 
farther off shore. 

In Rhode Island waters the northern limits of the lobster-producing 
territory are Mount Hope Point on the east side of Narragansett Bay 
and Patience Island on the west side. Off-shore the lobster fishing 
is carried on as far as 8 to 14 miles off Block Island. The usual 
maximum depth of water in which pots are set, ranges from 12 to 
14 fathoms, but occasionally in fishing some distance off-shore, the 
pots are set in water from 16 to 19 fathoms deep. 



92 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

2. NATURAL HOME AND MIGRATIONS. 

The character of the shores where the lobster lives varies from 
rocky and precipitous to sandy or muddy. During the winter the 
lobsters probably retreat to deeper water and burrow in the mud, 
since the fishermen find it necessary to gradually move their traps 
farther off shore with the approaching winter. This migration to 
deep water is not common to all lobsters, as we find some in holes 
along the shores which are exposed by extreme low tides during the 
.winter months. 

With the return of spring and early summer, the lobstermen move 
their pots nearer shore. This movement of the lobsters to and from 
shore is probably the whole extent of their migrations, and therefore 
the restocking of the shores of a particular locality is possible. Efforts 
are being made to get more exact data on migrations by liberating 
tagged lobsters. Female lobsters, with eggs ready to hatch, are 
most often caught on rocky bottoms, and lobsters ready to shed, or 
those that have just done so, are most abundant on sandy or muddy 
shores. Dutch Island Harbor in Narragansett Bay seems to be a 
great shedding ground. 

In Rhode Island waters, as a result of long experience, the following 
seasonal changes are made in setting lobster pots: 

From April 15 to the last of June the pots are set in shoal water 
among the rocks. On this kind of bottom, and apparently on no 
other kind, the female lobsters with "ripe eggs" (i. e. hatching) are 
found. 

Between the above time and the latter part of August, the ex- 
perienced lobstermen set their gear on smooth bottom — such as 
sandy bottoms or bottoms covered with small gravel or mussels. At 
this time of year, the lobsters which have hatched their eggs are 
molting, and other female lobsters are beginning to extrude their 
eggs. The absence of chogsetts and tautog from this sort of bottom, 
renders it particularly favorable for molting and spawning. 

From the early part of September to the end of season (Nov. 15) 
fishing is again renewed on rocky bottoms but need not be carried on 



APPENDIX. 93 

in as shoal water as in the spring. Here in quite deep water green 
egg lobsters are so abundant as to merit the name of " school egg 
lobsters " — often comprising more than half of the entire catch. 

Often near the close of the lobster season (Nov. 15), lobsters may 
be readily caught within Narragansett Bay on muddy bottom. 

3. FOOD. 

Although lobsters are called the "scavengers of the sea" and do 
undoubtedly feed on dead fish, yet they seem to prefer recently 
killed food. Rotten fish, while it probably attracts hungry lobsters, 
is found to remain untouched, or is even pushed aside, by lobsters 
in cars, which have been reasonably well feci. Lobsters in their 
natural homes undoubtedly have long intervals between meals, and 
eat ravenously when any food is found. This will account for the 
ease with which they are caught in pots. The food of the lobster 
includes nearly all kinds of fish; whatever shellfish it can find, crabs, 
and other invertebrates. Pieces of shell and pebbles are also found 
in their stomachs. The material for the hardening of the shell is 
probably obtained from the former. The lobster does not hesitate 
to eat another lobster which has been weakened by molting or 
injury. This cannibalism is most marked in the larvse, where it is a 
most serious obstacle to rearing. 

The following list of articles are used in Rhode Island for baiting 
lobster pots: — (these are given in order of preference.) 

Halibut heads, bluefish heads, menhaden (this kind is used chiefly 
when fishing on smooth bottom because it is a soft fish. On rocky 
bottom, the chogsetts would steal the bait) , sculpin, sea-robins, whit- 
ings (the last three are used mostly in the spring) , flounders, herring, 
and small fish used in net bags. 

4. LENGTH OF LIFE. 

The age of a lobster can only be told with a moderate degree of 
accuracy. Size may be an indication, but frequently, among those 
reared in cars, some will be found four or five times the length of 



94 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

others of the same age. (Plate IV.) From accounts of early days, 
there seems to be no limit to the size which lobsters may attain; but 
in recent years no lobster of over 25 pounds (21 inches in length) has 
been authentically recorded. From the slow growth which we know 
lobsters have, this specimen could not have been under 20 years old, 
and many considerations would point to a greater age. (Plate V.) 

The following table, giving the probable rate of growth of the lobster 
from time of hatching to largest size known, was compiled by Dr. 
P. B. Hadley, in 1906, while at the experiment station at Wickford: 




Plate IV. — Two lobsters of the same age, illustrating differences in rate of growth. 
Life size; age, 1 year and 4 months. (Photographed from life.) 




Plate V. — A very old male lobster. (Photographed from life.) Length, 19J 
inches; weight, 19 pounds. 



APPENDIX. 



95 



An Estimate of the Rate of Growth of the American Lobster from Time of Hatching 
to Attainment of Greatest Known Size. 



No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No. 

No 



26J. 
27.. 



No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 
No. 



. 30. 

31. 

32. 
33. 
34. 
35. 

36. 



Stage. 



Approximate. 
Age. 



Length. 
Inches. 



3 days 

7 days 

12 days 

24 days 

35 days 

7 weeks 

9 weeks 

3 months 

5 months 

9 months 

1 year 

1 yr., 1 mo. . . . 
1 yr., 3 mos. . . 

1 yr., 6 mos. . . 

2 yrs 

2 yrs., 3 mos. . 
2 yrs., 3 mos. . 

2 yrs., 6 mos. . 

3 yrs 

3 yrs., 6 mos. . 

4 yrs 

4 yrs., 6 mos. . 

4 yrs., 6 mos. . 

5 yrs 

6 yrs., 5 most. 

6 yrs 

8 yrs., 4 mos. . 

7 yrs 

10 yrs., 4 mos. 

8 yrs 

12 yrs., 4 mos. 

9 yrs 

14 yrs., 4 mos. 

10 yrs 

16 yrs., 4 mos. 

12 yrs 

18 yrs., 4 mos. 

1 4 yrs 

20 yrs., 4 mos. 

17 yrs 

20 yrs 

23 yrs 

26 yrs 

29 yrs 

33 yrs 



.32 
.38 
.45 
.54 



1A 
li 

H 

IS 

2i 

2i 

21 

31 

4& 

4J 

4J 

5| 

61 

7i 



91 

91 

11 

11 

12 

12 

13ft 

13ft 

14i 

14* 

15* 

15i 

16* 

16* 

17* 

17* 

18J 

19* 

20 * 

21 

21* 

221 



Increase. 
Per cent. 



Sex. 



M.-F. 



*For female lobsters bearing eggs, there can naturally be'no molt during the period that the 
external eggs are carried; this is at least for 11 or 12 months. 

fBecause of the great lack of data on the molting periods of stages 26 to 35 the following 
estimate must be, to a high degree, speculative. It can not, however, fall far from actual 
conditions. 

Jit is uncertain at just what time the spring or early summer molt for female lobsters not 
bearing external eggs is first omitted, but it is probably near this stage. 



96 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

5. MOLTING AND GROWTH. 

Covered by a hard shell, the only means which the lobster has of 
becoming larger is by casting off its old shell; that is, by molting. 
Growth has already taken place within, rendering the animal more 
compact, so that when the lobster sheds it immediately expands 
through the absorption of water. (Plate VI.) The new shell, at 
first as soft as wet paper, becomes hardened in- a few days and pre- 
vents further expansion. The lobster in the first year, molts about 
14 or 15 times. Each successive year it molts less often until lobsters 
between 8 and 9 inches long shed no more than 2 or 3 times a year. 
Concerning the molting periods of larger lobsters, scarcely anything 
is known. 

It is known, however, that — 

1. When regeneration of various parts is taking place, the molting 
period and presumably the growth will very often be retarded. 

2. Excessive light (as rearing in cars without covers), will lessen 
the percentage of gain at each molt, and perhaps of the periods. 

3. Abundance of food will increase the percentage of gain and 
perhaps hasten the molt. 

6. REGENERATION. 

If a claw or any appendage is lost the lobster has the power of grow- 
ing it again (regeneration). (Plate VII.) Should the loss occur 
within a certain period, too near an approaching molt, the molting 
occurs regularly without anything being done in the way of repair. 
If, however, the loss happens a considerable length of time before the 
molt, this period will be delayed somewhat, and, in place of the lost 
limb, a bud will grow out. When the molt occurs the lost limb will 
come out fully formed, but about one-half size. When the next 
molt occurs it will be full size. This is true, with some variation, of 
all external organs unless it is the eye. This has never been observed 
to regenerate at the experiment station. Closely related to this 




Pi ate VI. — A young, newly-molted lobster (right), together with its old shell. 




Plate VII. — Regenerating appendages 
on the same lobster. (Photographed from 
life.) 

Fig. I. — Just before molting. Shows 
regenerating bud of left claw-limb (1). 

Fig. II. — Same lobster after molting. 
Shows the regenerated limb (1). 




Plate VIII. — -An adult female lobster bearing egg-clusters. 



APPENDIX. 97 

power of regeneration is the habit which the lobster has of throwing 
off a claw, when it is crushed or injured (autotomy). 

7. SEXUAL MATURITY. 

Since it is impossible to tell how old a lobster is, we can not tell 
at what age it reaches sexual maturity. Observation on several 
thousand egg lobsters received at the experiment station during sev- 
eral years seems to indicate that, in Narragansett Bay, lobsters may 
become sexually mature when from 8i to 9 inches long. In the past 
ten years, only about twenty egg lobsters under 9 inches in length, 
have been received, though a considerable number have been just 9 
inches. This would indicate that in Narragansett Bay very few 
lobsters under 9 inches have become sexually mature, although 9 
inches is a good average. Herrick places the range in length of the 
Massachusetts lobster, at the time of sexual maturity at from 8 to 
12 inches, and thinks that 10 J inches is the average length at sexual 
maturity. 

8. SPAWNING HABITS. 

The female lobsters spawns once in two years. (Plate VIII.) The 
eggs, as a rule, are laid in August, but some few lobsters lay them in 
July and some later in the fall or winter. Hatching occurs the 
following summer at a time determined by the temperature of the 
water to which the eggs have been subjected during the period in 
which they have been carried. In Narragansett Bay it usually takes 
place from the first of May to the end of July. 

The lobster therefore carries its eggs for a period of 10 or 11 months 
before they hatch. The number of eggs carried by a lobster varies 
according to the size of the lobster; thus, according to Herrick, assum- 
ing that an 8-inch lobster has on the average, 5,000 eggs, a 10-inch 
lobster would have 10,000, a 12-inch lobster, 20,000, etc. A lobster 
about 16 inches long would thus lay about 80,000 eggs. This is, 
however, a low average. Lobsters 16 inches in length, may have 



98 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

100,000 eggs. When the female lobster is bearing eggs, she usually 
frequents some rocky shore where she can better protect herself. 

As was mentioned in Section 2, "Natural Home and Migrations," 
female lobsters when extruding their eggs are most often caught upon 
sandy or smooth bottom. 

9. LARVAL STAGES. 

During the first two or three weeks which follow hatching, the 
lobster passes through a larval period, during which it molts 3 times 
before it takes on the general external appearance of the adult. In 
each period it differs in form and habits as well as size. The main 
characteristics are as follows : 

First Stage. (Plate IX.) In this stage the lobster swims 
rather feebly at the surface by the use of the outer branches of the 
thoracic appendages. The last segment of the abdomen bears one 
piece which is cleft like a fish's tail. The abdominal swimmerets 
are lacking, and the limbs that usually bear the big claws are of the 
same size as the walking limbs. In this, as in the second and third 
stages, the fry are ravenous feeders. 

The average number of days that the fry continue in this stage at 
Wickford is five. 

Second Stage. (Plate X.) After the first molt the lobster's 
claws become a little larger than the other limbs, but remain hanging 
down. The abdominal swimmerets appears, although the thoracic 
swimming organs are used almost entirely in swimming. The tail 
lacks those outer segments which cause it to be characterized later 
as the "tail-fan." 

The average number of days in this stage at Wickford is three. 

Third Stage. (Plate XI.) The lobster, after the second, molt, 
has proportionally still larger claws than the larvse of the second 
stage, but they still droop. The abdominal swimmerets become 
fringed with short hairs, and the outer blades of the "tail-fan" 
make their appearance. Swimming is still by use of the thoracic 




Plate IX. — First Stage Lobster. (Drawn from life by P. B. Hadley.) 
Enlarged about 18X. 




Plate X. — Second Stage Lobster. (Drawn from life by P. B. Hadley.) 
Enlarged about 14X. 




Plate XI. — Third Stage Lobster. (Drawn from life by P. B. Hadley.) 
Enlarged about 12X. 




Plate XII.— Fourth Stage Lobster. (Drawn from life by P. B. Hadley.) 
Enlarged about 5X. 



APPENDIX. 99 

appendages. The greater size and more vigorous swimming causes 
this stage to be easily distinguished from the preceding stages. 

Four days is the average duration of this stage at Wickford. 

Fourth Stage. (Plate XII.) The lobster at this stage becomes 
shaped like the adult. The claws are carried in front while swim- 
ming. The thoracic swimming appendages become reduced and 
f unctionless, and in general the unmistakable resemblance to the 
adult easily determines this stage from the preceding ones. The 
swimming is now very vigorous, and, when swimming in the rearing 
car, it always heads toward the current. Burrowing is begun to a 
certain extent in this period. 

The average number of days required at Wickford to reach this 
stage from the time of hatching is thirteen. 

10. ADOLESCENT PERIOD. 

Later stages develop other structural changes, although more 
gradually. At the seventh stage the appendages on the first abdomi- 
nal segment appear as buds, and by the eighth stage they have de- 
veloped sufficiently to enable the sex to be told. Beyond this 
stage the changes consist merely in the gradual assumption of the 
mature form and structure. 

11. SOME PECULIAR MEANS OP SELF-PRESERVATION. 

Any one who has handled lobsters under 3 inches in length is 
familiar with the fact that the little fellows, when handled, will 
straighten out and to every appearance seem to be dead. The 
rigidity does not cease immediately when replaced in the water. 
This death-feigning habit is gradually outgrown, and perhaps is never 
found among adult lobsters. It is supposed to be useful to the 
animal in protecting itself against fishes which prefer live food. 

Autotomy, the voluntary shedding of an appendage, is another 
habit which is more easily seen to be self-preservative. If a lobster's 
claw is held too tightly or crushed, it is almost always quickly dropped 



100 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

off. As it can again be regenerated the lobster is only maimed for a 
short time, while the loss of the claw may prevent the lobster from 
getting pulled out of its burrow and destroyed. 

12. SENSIBILITY TO LIGHT. 

The adult lobster is negatively heliotropic, i. e., it will endeavor 
to get away from the light. This is not, however, characteristic of 
all stages, In the first three larval stages the fry seem to seek the 
lighted area (positively heliotropic) . The fourth stage also has this 
peculiarity till near the end of the stage, when it seems to anticipate 
the later stages and becomes negatively heliotropic. This negative 
heliotropism is perhaps the explanation of the fact that at this time 
also the lobster leaves the surface and begins to burrow at the bottom. 

It is an interesting fact, also, that the fry when confined in one of 
the rearing cars, though closely crowded together, and carried rapidly 
around by the current, will avoid, and keep some little distance 
away from, any white object, such as a white stick or a paddle blade 
thrust in among them. 

13. THE ENEMIES OF THE LOBSTER. 

From the moment of hatching until death, the lobster is beset 
with enemies. The amount of harm which these can do, however, 
decreases as the lobster becomes larger. Some of these enemies 
are particularly antagonistic while the lobster is in the larval stages. 
In this period the natural mode of life of the lobster fry renders them 
helpless. Their efforts at swimming are little more than "treading 
water." They are powerless against the slightest current of water, 
and are an easy prey to even the smallest fishes. Shrimp and tautog, 
as they frequent the places where the fry are found, are particularly 
dangerous foes. But perhaps the lobsters are their own worst 
enemies. A lobster larvae is just as willing to pounce upon a weaker 
neighbor as upon the choicest morsel of food. 

After the larval period is past the lobster's enemies do not lessen, 
but the lobster can better protect itself by burrowing among the 



APPENDIX. 101 

rocks. Herrick says that "every predaceous'fish which feeds upon 
the bottom, may be looked upon in general as an enemy to the 
lobster." Among these the cod, the sea eel, and the dogfish are 
particularly effective. So frequently are lobsters found in the 
stomachs of these fishes that fishermen are not loath to state that the 
lobster is their principal diet. The most important foe of the adult 
lobster, however, is man, and his attacks are so successful that the 
lobster unaided can not hold his own against them. 

14. DECREASE IN ABUNDANCE OF LOBSTERS. 

From consideration of the many enemies it is not wonderful that 
the supply of lobsters all along the coast should become less. All of 
the facts as given above are, to some extent, responsible for this 
depletion, but excessive fishing is the most important. 

So strenuously is the lobster fishing followed up and with such good 
success that often those who are best informed in regard to the in- 
dustry are deceived by the large and, either constant or increasing, 
number of lobsters caught and argue that the supply in this or that 
locality is not decreasing. This deception is accomplished either by 
an increase in the number of lobster pots or by shifting the gear to 
grounds which have not been fished so extensively, or by both. The 
demands of the market are certain to be supplied if human ingenuity 
can find a way, and, as has been said before, lobsters are very easily 
trapped. The items that should be taken into account in the consider- 
ation of the status of the lobster industry are the extent of the area 
fished, the number of pots actually set, the thoroughness with which 
they are cared for, and the number of pounds, but also the number of 
lobsters, caught. Furthermore, these statistics, to be of real value, 
should extend over a period of at least five years. With the above 
variables in mind it will be readily seen from any table of statistics 
that everywhere along the Atlantic coast the abundance of lobsters 
has decreased since the establishment of a market for them. 



102 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

II. METHODS EMPLOYED TO PREVENT EXTERMINA- 
TION. 

As early as the decrease in the number of lobsters was observed, 
some 80 years ago, various States and the general government began 
to contrive means to prevent the decrease and, if possible, to increase 
the supply of this " king of Crustacea." Naturally the methods which 
had proved satisfactory in the case of fishes were first used for the 
lobster, i. e., legal restricting of the fishing and artificial hatching of 
the eggs. These two methods will be considered briefly, and then 
will follow a somewhat detailed description of the scheme of hatching 
and rearing so successfully developed by the Rhode Island Commis- 
sion of Inland Fisheries. 

A. LEGAL RESTRICTIONS. 

1. Protection of Egg Lobsters. One of the first laws enacted for 
the protection of the lobster is that which imposes a fine on any one 
retaining or destroying lobsters bearing spawn. The value of the 
principle upon which this law is based is apparent to any one, espe- 
cially considering the fact that lobsters carry their eggs for eleven 
months before hatching. Unfortunately this law can be quite easily 
evaded by scraping off the eggs. Furthermore, when it is remembered 
that the female carries its eggs only 10 months in every two years, and 
in the remaining fourteen months may be caught and sold, the value 
of the law decreases perceptibly. It should be added that the pur- 
chasing of egg lobsters by the various States and the federal govern- 
ment prevents many from being scraped by taking away the incen- 
tive and is therefore a valuable addition to the lobster legislation. 

2. Protection of Immature Lobsters. An equally early law of 
easily recognized value is known as the "short lobster law." A 
fine is placed upon the retention of lobsters under a certain length. 
The idea in the framing of this law was to enable the lobster to reach 
maturity and spawn at least once before it was lawful to capture it. 
The legal length in various States ranges from 9 to 10| inches. As was 



APPENDIX. 103 

seen in the paragraph on sexual maturity, the lobster in Narragansett 
Bay in all probability is 9 inches, or slightly over, when it becomes 
sexually mature. In Massachusetts, Herrick found the average to be 
10J inches, and perhaps in the colder water of the State of Maine, it 
may be still greater. It is to be regretted that a uniform law has not 
been established. The fact that often the lobsters do not mature 
until they have passed the legal length, and the proportionately 
small number of eggs which the first spawning produces, tends to 
diminish the value of this law. In the light of our present knowledge 
of the biology of the lobster, the most valuable feature of such a law 
is seen to be the fact that protection is given to the lobster where it is 
most harassed by its enemies, and is most receptible to the attacks 
because of its frequent molting. 

3. Protection of Large Lobsters. For a few years there has been 
agitated a change in the laws, so as to prevent the capture of lobsters 
over a certain length. In this way protection would be given the 
large lobsters instead of the small ones. It is argued in favor of this 
scheme that: 

(1) Lobsters bear eggs in geometrical proportion to their length: 
8-inch lobsters, 5,000; 10-inch, 10,000; 12-inch, 20,000, etc. If these 
old ones are saved, more spawn will be hatched, and the greater the 
number of eggs hatched, the greater number of lobsters will result. 

(2) The larger the lobster becomes, the more immune it is from 
its enemies; and since, barring accidents, there seems to be no limit 
to the size which it may attain, there will always be spawners to keep 
up the supply. 

(3) It will be easy to enforce a law of this kind, since pots may be 
required to have an opening under a certain size. This will prevent 
the big lobsters from entering. 

(4) The older ones are not so tender meated, and thus the least 
possible damage will be done to the fisheries. 

It is argued on the opposing side that, if the young ones were caught 
where would the old ones come from, and also that protection should 
be given the lobster during the period which is most critical. This 



104 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

latter contention is a strong one, but in regard to the former, it is a 
well-known fact that all the lobsters of a certain size are not caught. 

4. A Double Limit. There are certainly good points on both 
sides of the argument presented in the last section, and it would be 
impossible to give judgment in favor of either. The wisest plan, in 
view of the depleted condition of the lobster fishery, would be to 
adopt both. Laws could be enacted preventing the legal capture of 
those under 8^ inches and over 13 inches. As a help to the enforce- 
ment of such a law the pots might be required to have an entrance 
small enought to prevent those over 14 inches from entering. The 
value of such a law cannot be too strongly stated, especially when 
there is coupled with it laws penalizing the retention of egg lobsters 
except to sell them to the State for propagation purposes. 

5. Close Time. The State of Rhode Island has passed laws 
making the setting of pots and the taking of lobsters between the 
15th of November and the 15th of April unlawful. There might be 
some question also, whether these particular dates are the best, as 
every month in the year has been included in the close season in some 
State or other. Some restriction of this sort is certainly needed, but 
there should be co-operation between all the States interested in the 
lobster fishery. 

6. Prevention of Mutilation. In order to avoid the consequences 
of retaining short lobsters, the fishermen have recourse to breaking 
the lobsters in two. """his makes it impossible to tell the length of the 
lobster, especially when the parts of many lobsters were mixed to- 
gether. To prevent this infringement, and also to prevent the use 
of short lobsters for bait, laws have been passed in most of the lob- 
ster-producing States, imposing a fine for possessing the mutilated 
remains of uncooked lobsters. The canning industry was dealt a 
severe blow by these laws, but in one State (Maine) special legislation 
was made in regard to these factories. 

7. Further Regulations. In Rhode Island and some other states, 
non-residents are prevented from engaging in lobster fishing and the 



APPENDIX. 105 

residents themselves must be licensed. Further, certain States 
require that all cars, traps, and other contrivances used in catching or 
handling lobsters shall be branded with the owner's name, and in 
order to give protection to the lobstermen, unauthorized meddling 
with lobster gear is heavily fined. 

8. Tabulation of Lobster Laws. The following table gives the 
main laws of various states regarding the lobster fishery: 



106 



COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 







Non- 
residents 
fishing, and 
penalty. 






Must be an 

inhabitant 

for one year, 

or $20.00 

fine. 

Shall be a 

citizen for 

one year, and 

licensed; 

$20.00 fine 

and 30 

days. 

Non- 
residence 
and aliens 
licensed. 






Unauthorized, 
interference 
with gear. 

Penalty. 


$20.00 to 
$50.00. 

$50.00. 

First offence, 

$5.00 to $25.00, 

and 30 days; 

subsequent 

$20.00 to 

$50.00, and 

60 days. 

$10.00. 








a" 
S 

H 

H 

o 
o 


>> 

"3 
d 
o 
Ph 








^20.00, or 
30 days' 
im- 
prison- 
ment. 








d 
o 
.d 








£ < 








Not 

marking 

gear. 

Penalty. 


Cars, $10.00; 
traps, $5.00. 


essary in order 

to bring suits 

for damages. 

$10.00 to 
$100.00. 

Confiscation; 
$20.00, or 30 

days' im- 
prisonment. 

Confiscation; 
fine not to ex- 
ceed $25.00. 






Un- 
cooked 
muti- 
lated, 
remains. 

Penalty. 


d 
o 
d 

6* 


$5.00 
each. 

$5.00. 








to 
« 
H 
Eh 

B 
O 

iJ 

Eh 
« 
O 

w 
go 


-^ 
"3 
d 
o 

Ph 


$1.00 

each. 

$10.00 
each. 

$5.00 
each. 

$5.00 
each. 

Not to 
exceed 
$25.00. 

Deter- 
mined 
by court 
as misde- 
meanor. 




6 

CO 

a 

3 

a 

'5 


o 

O 
O 

O 


•a£s 

a 


8f in. 

body 
measure . 

4J in. 

body 

measure . 






6 
> 

< 


4f in. 

body 

measure . 

lOi in. 


entire 
length. 

9 in. 
entire 
length. 

4J in. 

body 

measure . 

4J in. 

body 

measure . 

9 in. 
entire 
length. 




State 
Pur- 
chasing 

egg 
lobsters. 


J- 

3 o 

ft m 

1° : 


May 

give 

permit. 

Shall 
pur- 
chase. 

May 
pur- 
chase. 






Egg lobsters. 

Penalty for not 
liberating. 


$10.00 each. 
$10.00 each. 

For each 
offence, $10.00 
to $100.00 or 
one to three 
months' im- 
prisonment. 

$5.00. 

Not to exceed 
$25.00. 

No 
restriction. 






Eh 
< 
Eh 
CO 




d 
"3 


o 

IS 

0. 

a 


03 
3 
o 
m 
§ 

s 


Rhode Island 

Connecticut 


u 
o 





APPENDIX. 107 

It would be safe to assume that, even with well-enforced and uni- 
form laws in the various States, the abundance of lobsters would not 
be sufficient to keep pace with the increased demands of the market. 
Some means of artificial propagation must be resorted to. 

B. ARTIFICIAL HATCHING AT THE STATIONS OF THE 
UNITED STATES BUREAU OF FISHERIES. 

As artificial hatching had been successful, in the case of fishes, it 
was naturally the first method to be tried with lobsters. When the 
lobsters are received at these stations, the eggs are scraped off and 
placed in jars to hatch. The MacDonald jar, well known through it 
use in the hatching of shad, has been, till quite recently, the one made 
use of, and has been quite successful, only a small percentage of eggs 
failing to hatch. Within the past few years the station at Woods 
Hole has used, with good results, the Downing jar instead of the Mac- 
Donald. 

It was, however, pointed out long ago that few, perhaps not over 
1 in 1,000 of the fry thus hatched ever reached the fourth stage. 
Furthermore, hatching the eggs artificially possesses no advantage 
over the natural method. It is safe to say that the egg lobster hatches 
practically all the eggs that will hatch. No artificial method can do 
as well. Even though the hatching can be perfected to such an extent 
that the percentage very closely approximates the natural method, 
there will be a great mortality before the fry can be liberated. This 
would not occur in the natural state, because the eggs of a lobster do 
not all hatch at one time, and consequently, in moving about over the 
bottom, the egg lobster would scatter its fry over a wider area. Fur- 
thermore, when the fry are liberated from the artificial hatchery, the 
cloud which results from pouring out the thousands of larvae must 
undoubtedly attract the attention of fishes, while the few which would 
hatch at one time from the natural method might escape notice. 

Perhaps the principal thing which can be said in favor of artificial 
hatching is that the practice of buying egg lobsters, usually at a pre- 



108 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

mium, discourages the fishermen from scraping off the immature eggs 
in order to evade the law. 

C. HATCHING AND REARING AS DEVELOPED BY THE 
RHODE ISLAND COMMISSION. 

1. INTRODUCTION. 

In view of the decided disadvantage with which the recently 
hatched larvae commence life, and the very slight advantage, if any, 
which hatching them artificially has over the natural methods, 
it has been clearly recognized for a number of years that some further 
protection must be given the young lobster if artificial methods are 
to make any appreciable difference in the lobster supply. Herrick, 
in whose charge the United States Bureau of Fisheries placed the 
investigation of the entire lobster problem, said, in 1895, "The 
problem of artificial propagation of the lobster will be solved when 
means are devised by which larvse, after hatching, can be reared in 
enclosures until the fifth or sixth stage, when they are able to take 
care of themselves." 

This idea of rearing the larvse until they are able to care for them- 
selves has been before the Rhode Island Commission since 1898. 
But instead of rearing them to the fifth and sixth stages it has been 
the policy until quite recently to rear them only to the fourth stage, 
when, as has been seen, the lobsters assume the general form of the 
adult and to some extent its habits. It is true that the lobster does 
not entirely give up its swimming habits till it reaches the fifth stage, 
and occasionally not until the sixth stage is reached. But since, as 
will be shown later, the fourth stage lobster does burrow and, if 
liberated with care at favorable localities, will hide at the bottom 
among the stones and eel-grass, and also on account of the great space 
required, it has been until lately impractical to retain them until a 
later stage. With the continual enlargement of the plant and with 
improvements in methods to such an extent that less space is required 
for the fry, we have been able to rear many thousands to the fifth and 




Plate XIII. — Raft units attached to the houseboat. (End View.) 




Plate XIV. — Raft units attached to the houseboat. (Side view.) 



APPENDIX. 109 

sixth stages. It is quite probable in the near future that only to 
avoid excessive crowding will any lobsters be liberated at the fourth 
stage. 

The successful method of rearing the lobsters through the free- 
swimming stage was the result of many painstaking expeririients. 
Since the idea was hit upon in 1900, it has taken ten years of con- 
tinued experiments in order to bring the work up to its present con- 
dition. It can now be truly said that the scheme, as now operated, 
is entirely practical and successful. The chief obstacles which had to 
be overcome in reaching success were the serious cannibalism of the 
larvae, the necessity of crowding them together in order to rear large 
numbers, the difficulty of supplying them with sufficient food, the 
parasitic growths of diatoms and protozoa which infect the early 
stages, and the determination of an optimum current of water by 
correct adjustment of the angle of the paddle. 

The main feature of the scheme used in rearing consists in keeping 
the fry in constant motion. This is accomplished by confining the 
fry in large wooden boxes or tanks which are suspended in the water, 
and provided with windows of fine mesh wire netting or perforated 
metal. A two-bladed paddle, not unlike a restaurant fan, is kept 
revolving slowly in each box at a rate of 9 revolutions per minute. 
Through their motion the water is kept fresh and the fry are prevented 
from settling to the bottom. The current of water is made just strong 
enough to keep them separated, thus preventing them from feeding 
upon one another, and yet of sufficient strength to keep their food in 
circulation near them. The proper adjustment of the paddle is one of 
the most important elements in successful rearing. 

A three horse-power gasoline engine supplies the power for opera- 
ting the paddles. This power is transmitted by means of steel shaft- 
ing, and mitred gears from the houseboat (Plates XIII, XIV), in 
which the engine is located, to the floats attached to the sides of the 
houseboat. There are two of these floats which are fastened to the 
houseboat, one on each side, and are composed of a number of raft 
units bolted together and floated by barrels. The units are construct- 



110 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

ed of 6 x 6 spruce, and each one contains two rearing cars. These 
cars or boxes are ten feet square and four feet deep and are made of 
matched spruce. Four carefully screened windows, two in the bottom 
and one on each of two opposite sides, are set in the cars and provide 
for the necessary circulation of water. More detailed account of the 
various constructions and operations is given in the following para- 
graphs. 

2. STRUCTURE OF THE FLOATS. 

Reference to Plates XV, XVI will give an idea of the manner 
in which a raft unit is constructed. In brief, it is a skeleton raft, 
with two alleyways running the length of the float, one on either side, 
for the supporting barrels. Between the alleyways are two open 
pools, 12 feet square, in which the rearing cars are placed. At the 
corners of each pool are uprights which are connected across the top 
by cross beams. Running the full length of the raft and supported 
by these cross beams is a beam which crosses the center of each 
pool and furnishes support for the shafting and gears. Two sets of 
these units are employed, one on each side of the houseboat. 

3. ENGINES AND GEARING. 

A three horse-power engine of the Fairbanks-Morse Vertical Type, 
located in the houseboat, furnishes the power necessary to operate 
the 28 nine-feet paddles now in use. Because of the distance from 
repair shops, and also because a stop of an hour's duration would 
result in considerable loss, we have installed two of these engines in 
the houseboat. These are arranged so that they may be used inde- 
pendently. That this size engine is capable of doing the work re- 
quired of it and even more is shown by the fact that this past season 
(1910) one was used day and night for over two months before it 
became necessary to shut it down for slight repairs. The other engine 
has been in use for eight years and is still capable of carrying the entire 
load. It is further to be remembered that the constant bending of 
the floats by the motion of the water makes necessary the transmis- 



> 

X 




SPECIAL APPARATUS USED AT WICKFORD. 




Plate XVII. — Universal joint and sliding sleeve. 




Plate XVIII.— Paddle gear (2), and 
bushing (1). 




Plate XIX. — Hoisting apparatus. 



APPENDIX. Ill 

sion of more power than is necessary for the mere turning of the pad- 
dles. In addition to this, the gears are protected in no way from the 
weather. Under all these conditions, however, there was ample 
power in the engine to provide for all emergencies. 

The speed of the engine, 320 revolutions per minute, is reduced, by 
means of belt pulleys situated within the engine-house, to forty 
revolutions. This speed is transmitted by means of a belt to a main 
transverse shaft of 1^-inch steel running across the houseboat. 

From this main shaft two transmissions are made to 1-inch shaft- 
ing running transversely on the two floats. The constant change in 
level between the houseboat and the floats, caused by the motion of 
the water, made necessary the adoption of universal joints (Plate 
XVII) invented especially for this purpose, to connect the shaft on 
the houseboat with the shafts on the floats. These universal joints 
consist of a pair of toggle-joints (Fig. 2) united by means of a sleeve 
(Fig. 5) in which two pieces of square shafting slide (Figs. 3, 7). The 
toggle-joints make possible the transmission of power at any angle, 
and the square shafting, sliding in the sleeve, allows for the length- 
ening or shortening of the distance between the houseboat and the 
floats. From the transverse shafts on each float, which of course 
have the same speed as the main transverse shaft on the houseboat, 
connection is made, by sets of mitred gears, to longitudinal shafts 
running the length of the centers of the floats. The speed of the 
longitudinal shafts is reduced by the gears to twenty revolutions per 
minute. 

From these two longitudinal shafts, connection is made, by means 
mitred gears, to the vertical paddle shafts. (Plate XX, figs. 4-9.) 
In these the speed is reduced by the gears to nine revolutions. The 
paddle shafts are composed of two parts. The upper part, which is 
above the water, consists of one-inch square shafting. The lower 
part, which enters the water and upon which the paddle blades are 
attached, consists of galvanized iron piping except at the extreme 
upper end, where there is a short piece of one-inch square shafting. 
This piece of square shaft enables the power to be transmitted from 



112 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

the upper to the lower portions of the paddle shaft by means of a 
sliding sleeve, which is pinned to the upper shaft through a slot. 
When the sleeve is raised up the paddle is disengaged. Thus each 
paddle may be operated separately without interfering with the 
entire machinery. 

With the exception of the paddle shaft and the transverse shaft 
running across the houseboat, the entire shafting in use consists of 
one-inch round steel shafting supported by ordinary babbited shaft- 
hangers and pillow blocks. It is very necessary to use shaft as light as 
one-inch because in the long drives (at present about 530 feet — 250 
feet on each side of the houseboat) and the constant bending of the 
long floats, caused by the motion of the waves, a heavier shaft be- 
cause of its rigidity, would pull out the hangers. The one-inch 
shafting readily bends with the float and the low speed (18 R. P. 
M. in the longitudinal shafts) is not materially interfered with. 

Between each raft unit the shafting is connected by a sleeve 
coupling so devised that by sliding it back the shafting on the farther 
unit is disengaged. In this way the power on each unit raft can be 
stopped independently. Furthermore, since these couplings are loose 
on the shafts, they permit the shafts of two adjacent units to slightly 
pull apart or come together under stress of the bending caused by the 
waves without materially interfering with the alignment of the shaft 
or the transmitted power. 

The constant bending of the rafts led to an attempt to install 
electric motors on each unit. In such an arrangement, each unit 
would be independent of all others, and slack wires would easily 
take up all changes in length between rafts due to this motion. A 
practical method of installing a motor was easily found and tried out, 
but under present conditions proved to be too expensive. 

4. CONSTRUCTION AND CARE OF THE REARING BOXES. 

Previous to 1908, large bags made of canvas or scrim were used in 
rearing lobsters. Since this time wooden boxes have been substi- 
tuted and have been found to be more satisfactory in every way. 
Even at their best the canvas bags were not as efficient as the cars, 



mmstx 




Pt 



APPENDIX. 113 

and when we consider the durability, ease with which they may be 
handled, and the certainty with which they retain the fry, we see that 
the boxes far surpass the bags. Furthermore, the current in the cars 
differs greatly from that in the bags. In the latter the current is a 
sort of an ascending spiral and is in a measure continuous in direction. 
In the wooden boxes, because of the square corners, the current 
"doubles on itself," as it were, in each corner. This, if not allowed 
to be too strong, is of great advantage to the fry, often enabling a 
weaker one to escape the pursuit of its stronger neighbor. The food 
also tends to be scattered more widely through the box. 

The wooden rearing boxes (Plate XX) are 10 feet square and 4 
feet deep. They are built throughout of matched spruce strengthened 
by 2 by 3 timbers and in form are like ordinary boxes. The inside 
corners or angles may be truncated or not, just as desired, by wide 
boards carefully fitted in. (There is perhaps a slight advantage in 
truncating the corners but it is by no means very important.) In 
the bottom and on two sides of the rearing boxes are windows. The 
frames of these are made of furring (figs. 1, 2, and 3) and are covered on 
the outside with a heavy galvanized screening (from 4 to 8 meshes to 
the inch) designed to keep out the fish and also to protect the inside 
screen, which is usually a bronze wire netting (16 inches to the inch) 
and therefore quite light. This inside screening may be of various 
materials— such as wire netting of copper, bronze, or galvanized iron, 
or may be made of perforated metal. Bronze wire is used at present 
because it is inexpensive, and with care will last an entire season or 
longer. Furthermore, the gauge of the wire is small and therefore 
interferes very little with the circulation of water. 

The rearing cars are sunk into the pools of the rafts about three 
quarters of their depth and are held down by 2 x 8 spruce planks, 
which are notched to fit over the projecting 2x3 posts in each corner 
of the car (Plate XX, fig. 10) and are clamped clown to the rafts by 
iron hasps. A toothed hoisting-drum (Plate XIX) is located on the 
4x6 uprights at each corner of the pools and enables these cars to be 
easily raised whenever desired. 

As soon as the fry in a rearing car have reached the fourth stage, 



114 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

they are removed and the rearing box raised and thoroughly washed . 
(Plate XV.) The insides of the boxes are covered with a thin coating 
of copper paint in order to prevent them from becoming overgrown. 
This is quite an important matter because the fry often become 
contaminated from contact with the foul sides of the car. Care in 
seeing that there are no holes with a diameter greater than ^ of an 
inch in the cars, and then guarding against their becoming foul, are 
the two most essential points in the care of the cars. 

5. CONSTRUCTION AND ADJUSTMENT OF THE PADDLES. 

The paddles used at Wickford are two-bladed, not unlike those 
used overhead in restaurants. (Plate XX.) Each blade is made 
of one-inch cypress and is 8 inches wide at the end nearest the paddle 
shaft, and tapers to about 4 inches at the outer end. The blades are 
fastened by clamps to a piece of f-inch galvanized iron pipe, which 
is placed on the under side. (figs. 4,5.) Between the two blades 
there is a cross coupling, into one opening of which a short vertical 
galvanized iron pipe is screwed (fig. 6) which sets over a stud-bearing 
in the bottom of the rearing car. (fig. 7) In the opposite opening 
of the cross coupling is a long vertical galvanized pipe (fig. 8) which 
is used as a shaft for that part of the paddle which is under water, 
and connects with the shafting and gears as described in section 3, 
page 110. The paddle used at present is broadly beveled on each 
side, though the double beveling is unnecessary. The length of the 
paddle should be sufficient to clear the sides of the box by about 3 
inches when revolving, and should be raised about the same distance 
above the bottom. The blades of the paddle should, furthermore, be 
painted white so that the lobsters will avoid them. 

Too great care can not be exercised in the proper adjustment of 
the paddle. With a paddle of the above width and length, a little 
less than ten revolutions per minute are sufficient. The angle which 
the paddle should oppose to the water is a matter which requires 
experience to determine. It is, however, a very important factor. 
Many times in two lots of larvss, under apparently similar conditions, 



APPENDIX. 115 

one of them will appear clean and healthy while the other will be 
covered with growths. In one a large percentage will survive, while 
in the other the mortality will be high. The main cause will be the 
difference in the current of water. 

By the angle of the paddle the amount of current is determined, 
and the current determines the amount of food which is accessible 
to the lobster, the extent of cannibalism, the ease with which they 
molt, the amount of diatoms and other parasitic growths on the fry, 
and those undeterminable factors which go to make up conditions 
of health and vigor. 

That the proper amount of current should affect the accessibility 
of the food, and to a certain extent prevent their eating one another, is 
easily seen. That it should have an influence on the ease of molting 
is also apparent. When the lobster molts it is, for a short time, more 
or less helpless. A strong current throws it against the sides of the 
box or forces it against the screenings. These conditions naturally 
do not favor molting. On the other hand, if the current is very weak, 
while it may be sufficient to keep an active larva moving, yet when 
the molting period arrives the larva will sink to the bottom and be 
rolled along with whatever food, silt, diatoms, and fungus spores have 
collected there. The current must be so adjusted as to prevent both 
of these difficulties. Why it should affect the parasitic growths on the 
fry is not so easily seen. Because of the current continually running 
in the boxes, a considerable number of diatoms, etc., will collect on 
the inside of the box, and consequently there will be in the water 
within the boxes. The number in the water within the boxes, how- 
ever, cannot be much greater than in the water outside; at least not 
enough greater to explain the abundant growths of diatoms which 
sometimes occur. The probability is that the fry are infected with 
these organisms by their contact with the sides of the boxes. With a 
current great enough to continually throw the fry against the sides of 
the boxes, the opportunity for their infection would be very great; 
while with a current of less intensity the natural instinct of the fry 
to shun an}'' object would prevent this to a great extent. That this 



116 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

is actually the case is shown by the fact that frequently two lots of 
fry, under exactly similar conditions as regards cleanliness of the 
boxes, etc., will, with different strengths of current, turn out, one 
clean and healthy and with a low mortality, the other covered with 
diatoms, etc., weak, and with a high mortality. 

Other unfavorable circumstances attend a strong current. Ex- 
periments with fry of all stages, conducted carefully in jars, showed 
that all through the larval period the lobster is negatively rheotropic, 
i. e., will endeavor to swim in opposition to the current. Efforts to 
oppose the current are more marked the stronger the current. In a 
very feeble current the lobster will, to a certain extent, act as if in 
quiet water; when the current is strong, but not too strong, it will 
oppose it, provided other things, such as the pursuit of food, reaction 
to light, etc., do not interfere. Of course in a too strong current the 
larvse will be prevented by the mere force of the current from swim- 
ming against it, This reaction to current is most pronounced in the 
fourth stage, as in that stage the fry are very strong swimmers. 
The first, second, and third stages swim very feebly, and are naturally 
turned over and over by a strong current. They will continue to 
struggle against it, however, though without avail. This certainly 
can not be favorable for their development. When turned over and 
over by a too strong current it is impossible for them to secure food 
and starvation results. 

Although from what has been said, it will be seen how important 
a matter the proper adjustment of the current is, yet the selection 
of the most favorable current can be made only after one has gained 
experience by actual experiment. 

6. OBTAINING THE EGG LOBSTERS. 

At Wickford, previous to 1910, the egg lobsters were purchased 
only in the spring from the lobstermen who were paid the regular 
retail price. But this past year the egg lobsters were bought through- 
out the entire year. These were retained in cars until the commence- 
ment of the close season (Nov. 15) when all but 400 were liberated. 




Plate XXI. — A towing car for transporting lobsters and fish. 



APPENDIX. 117 

The remainder were kept through the winter in floating cars which 
were 4 feet deep. If proper care can be given the egg lobsters, the 
method of buying the year around is preferable, as it creates a market 
for the egg lobsters and takes away the incentive to scrape off the 
green eggs; also, since the time in which they may be collected is 
longer, a greater number of egg lobsters can be secured. In trans- 
porting and handling the egg lobsters considerable care should be 
exercised, especially when the eggs are nearly ripe. The extremes 
of heat and cold, fresh water, and exposure to the air for any length of 
time, are the things to be most guarded against. Whenever they are 
to be shipped any distance it is preferable to have them contained 
in the well of a boat where abundant circulation of water can be had. 
Where a boat's well is not available a towing car like .the one in 
Plate XXI may be used. This is constructed of two barrels ballasted 
with Portland cement to keep them right-side up, and connected 
together with strips of furring. On the bottom, between these strips, 
cracks are left wide enough to allow abundant circulation of water, 
and on the upper side canvas flaps are provided to protect the lobsters 
from the hot sun. The front end of the forward barrel is built out and 
covered with tightly stretched canvas, in order that the car may tow 
easier. Lobsters have been carried long distances in excellent con- 
dition in this towing car. Wherever the lobsters must be shipped in 
barrels, care should be taken not to allow the ice to come in contact 
with the lobsters, as the fresh water from the melting ice will kill most 
of the eggs. If it is necessary to use ice in shipment, it should be so 
arranged that neither the ice nor the fresh water come in contact with 
the lobsters or with the eggs. This is readily accomplished by placing 
in the center of the barrels long cans above five inches in diameter to 
contain the ice. These should be covered with sacking to keep the 
lobster eggs from the extremely cold cans. 

The lobsters, however obtained, should be confined in covered cars 
which provide for abundant circulation of water. As the lobsters are 
more or less crowded together, it is often necessary to secure their 
claws in some way, to prevent fighting, which may result in their 



118 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

killing or mutilating one another, or at least in scraping off the eggs. 
Tying their claws with string or wire, winding with canvas bandages, 
or putting on mittens made of some cheap cloth, and plugging the 
claws with wooden plugs have all been tried. The surest way is to 
insert wooden plugs just outside of the movable jaw of their claws. 
This at first was avoided, for fear of injuring the lobsters, but it was 
found that very little, if any, injury was caused by this plugging. 
The use of the claw is very quickly restored after the plug is removed, 
and the lobster seems to be none the worse for it. This practice is 
employed by lobstermen everywhere, where lobsters are kept in cars. 
As the season progresses, usually about the first of May, the 
lobsters are looked over. One who has had experience can tell at a 
glance about how soon the eggs of a lobster will hatch. The lobsters 
that will hatch their eggs about the same time are put in compart- 
ments together. Too much care cannot be exercised in keeping them 
picked over. 

7. HATCHING THE EGGS. 

As soon as a lobster's eggs reach the point where they will hatch 
in two or three hours, the lobsters are transferred to the rearing box,, 
where the paddle is started and they are allowed to roam over the 
bottom and hatch their eggs in a perfectby natural manner. The 
paddle in this car should be sufficiently high from the bottom of 
the car to keep from striking the hen lobsters, and also prevent 
crowding them into the corners. As many as 100 hen lobsters may 
be put into one car, but care should be taken not to overcrowd them, 
because in overcrowded cars the hen lobsters cannot properly care for 
the eggs, which consequently are apt to spoil. Only enough should be 
put in to insure the filling of the car with fry in a few hours. Naturally 
this is a very important factor, because of the cannibalistic habits 
of the fry, for if lobster fry of varying ages are in the same car the 
danger of their devouring one another is much greater than as if 
they are all of the same age, even though this danger is reduced to a 
minimum in the rearing boxes. The rearing cars containing the egg 
lobsters should be carefully screened, because the bright light tends to 



APPENDIX. 119 

weaken the lobsters, and furthermore, the uniform shade in the covered 
cars keeps the hen lobsters scattered about instead of remaining 
crowded together in the corners. 

As soon as a sufficient number of fry has hatched to reasonably 
fill the rearing car, the hen lobsters are taken out and examined. 
Those that still have eggs are immediately put into the next rearing 
box, and so on until the eggs are all hatched. 

8. FEEDING. 

Feeding is another operation which requires much attention. 
(Plate XXII.) The lobster fry in all stages eat ravenously and 
without much selection of food. Almost anything in the way of 
:animal food will serve them for a meal. Their cannibalistic habits 
have been referred to. In confinement in the rearing cars the food 
item becomes of tremendous importance. Molting three times in 
from 10 to 14 days, while in each molt important structural changes 
occur, the lobsters demand regular and almost continual feeding. 
Their feeding apparently does not take place chiefly at night as in the 
adult, but on the contrary they seem to feed most frequently during 
the day. The warmth of the water and the bright sun seem to favor 
their growth, or at least the rapidity of molting. Lobster fry very 
often, when taken from the rearing bag and placed in a shallow dish 
for observation, will molt in a very short time if it is a bright sunny 
day. This occurs so often as to lead one to conclude that the warmer 
temperature of the water in the dish hastens the molting. Since the 
conditions of temperature favor growth, they must undoubtedly 
encourage more abundant feeding in order to supply proper material 
for growth. But we are not to conclude that the lobster does not 
feed during the night. Flash lights thrown on the water in the rear- 
ing boxes at night have shown fry eating pieces of food. The fact 
that the proportion of those feeding was not as great as in the daytime 
must not be taken as an indication that the lobsters feed principally 
by day, for a sudden light greatly excites them and may have caused 
the dropping of food. 



120 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

The practice of feeding the fry as frequently during the night as 
during the day, i. e., every two hours, has been carried on at Wick- 
ford. The kind of food used is determined, not so much by the 
preference of the lobster, as by the requirements of the scheme of 
rearing. The fry feed quite as readily on one kind of food as another. 
The articles which may be used as food, in order of their value, are 
hens eggs, soft shell clams, beef (cooked and raw), liver, fish, fly 
larvae, mussels, shredded codfish, copepocls, etc. . 

Hens eggs, fried without grease and finely pulverized, is the best 
and most economical food that has been found at present. Its 
light color attracts the fry, and the fact that immediately after feeding 
them, particles of egg can be seen through the transparent shell of 
nearly every lobster, is evidence of how readily they eat it. It is 
not necessary to obtain fresh eggs and we have used quite satis- 
factorily the " broken out " eggs, which are sold by the gallon. This 
past season (1910) it was found most economical to buy the second 
grade cold storage eggs by the case. In the first and second stages 
the fry were fed eggs exclusively, but in the later stages it was the 
practice to mix cooked beef and liver with the eggs. 

Soft-shelled clams, when available seem to be a very good food. 
The advantages are lightness (requiring little current to keep it up 
in the water), absence of oil, and less likelihood of decay. The fry 
eat it very readily. The preparation of the clams consist in cutting 
them from the shells and chopping them finely with a meat chopper. 
The whole clam is usually employed, not even discarding the tough 
snout, as the lobsters seem to pounce upon a piece of this almost as 
quickly as upon the softer parts. Clam, however, is not as good nor 
as economical as hens' eggs. 

Fish, perhaps, is as much preferred by the fry as anything ; but it is 
very oily and fills the water with grease. This interferes with obser- 
vation, and is unfavorable to a healthy condition of the fry. More- 
over, those particles which fall to the bottom of the car rapidly 
decay and foul the water. 

It is the custom at Wickford to feed the fry every two hours 



APPENDIX. 121 

throughout the twenty-four, and this seems to be very satisfactory. 
However, the practice of keeping the fry continually supplied with 
food should be considered of more importance than regular feeding 
periods. 

A mechanical feeder was used this last year which promises to be 
very satisfactory. It consists of an ordinary flour sieve which is 
suspended in the water and so arranged that the handle is slightly 
turned at each revolution of the paddle. The finely ground food is 
placed in this sieve and at each turn of the paddle a little of it is 
scraped out into the car, where the current of water quickly spreads it. 

9. LENGTH OF TIME REQUIRED TO REACH THE FOURTH STAGE. 

The length of time required to reach the fourth stage from the 
time of hatching varies at Wickford from 10 to 21 days. The tem- 
perature of the water is, in a great measure, responsible for this 
variation, but careful records kept during 1905 seem to show that, 
while it is the most important, it is not the only factor. It will be 
necessary to experiment further in order to fully establish the im- 
portance of the various factors, yet it may be said that the following 
certainly do exert considerable influence on the duration of the first 
three stages. In the order of apparent importance they are tempera- 
ture, food, current, density, and light. The effects of temperature, 
food, and current have already been described. Of the influence of 
the density of the water little is known ; after a warm rain, however, 
molting seems to progress more rapidly. The importance of the 
light factor is as yet undetermined. It has been the practice this 
past year (1910) to rear the fry unscreened from the sunlight, until 
they have reached the third stage after which they were kept screened. 
Good results were obtained from this method. 

10. LIBERATION OF THE LOBSTERLINGS. 

The proper liberation of the young lobsters is a matter equally as 
important as the successful rearing of them to the bottom stages and 
great care must be taken, otherwise the results so hardily won in 



122 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

rearing will be lost. Three methods will be spoken of: the liberation 
of the fourth stage lobsters along the shore, the liberation of fifth 
and later stages, and the liberation by means of specially devised cars. 

LIBERATION OF THE FOURTH STAGE LOBSTER ALONG THE SHORE. 

By this method as fast as the fry reach the fourth stage they are 
dipped out and put by themselves in a retaining car. As soon 
as a sufficient number has been collected they are transported to the 
place where they are to be liberated, in large galvanized iron cans 
with a loose cover over the top. A suitable shore, one composed 
of rocks, with a growth of short eel-grass or seaweed of some sort, is 
selected, and the young lobsters poured out just at the water's edge. 
(Plate XXIII.) The morning is the best time for transporting and 
liberating them. If the time during transportation is long, a tight 
can with ice may be suspended in the can containing the lobsters; 
but where there is to be only one or two hours confinement in the 
can, care in keeping it from the sun and frequently aeration of the 
water by stirring, is all that will be necessary. 

The above plan is the result of experience. At first the lobsters 
were liberated at the surface of rather deep water, over a rocky 
ledge. The fry, when poured out, would sink for some distance, and 
then the greater part would rise and swim about. Just how long this 
swimming was continued is not known. But instances occurred 
where individual lobsters, which had some distinguishing mark, as 
the absence of a claw or a peculiar tuft of cliatomaceous growth, have 
been liberated by accident near the houseboat, and have been observed 
for several days, swimming from one beam of the float to another, 
though the bottom was only from six to ten feet distant. It is hardly 
needful to comment on this method of liberation. Tautog abounding 
around such ledges would scarcely allow such an opportunity to go 
by without taking advantages of it. Perhaps few lobsterlings would 
ever become established in safe retreats. 

Profiting by this experience, the idea of liberating on the shore 
was tried. Here another distinction between favorable and unfavor- 



TJ 




APPENDIX. 123 

able places was found. If the lobsterlings were poured out at the 
edge of the water where the shore was composed of white or light 
colored rocks, the majority of them would swim out from the shore 
while still near the surface, and apparently the result would be 
similar to liberating in deep water. If the shore, however, afforded a 
dark background, especially if this was occasioned by eel-grass, algse, 
or seaweed of some sort, the lobsters would disappear, and close 
scrutiny would reveal most of them lodging in the branches of the 
weeds and following the stems down to the bottom. Some fry, of 
course, would swim out, due mostly to the reaction from being 
in confinement. Most of them, however, would soon go to the bottom. 

LIBERATION OF FIFTH AND LATER STAGES. 

As has already been shown, the exact time when the lobster fry 
leave off swimming, except when disturbed, varies somewhat. The 
majority of lobsters in the fourth stage, when confined in cars, do 
build burrows, and perhaps swim about only when in search of food 
or upon some other stimulus; many will, however, keep swimming 
about on the sides of the car near the surface, but it is not long, 
usually near the commencement of the fifth stage, before these too 
have taken up the habits of bottom life. From the above considera- 
tions it would seem that the lobsters may, if care is taken, be liberated 
successfully after the first three or four days of the fourth stage are 
past. But a later stage is preferred, and as many stages later as may 
be will further insure the lives of the lobsters liberated. The chief 
difficulty in the way of rearing these later stages is the great space 
required. However, it is hoped that in the future a large majority 
of our lobsters will be reared to the fifth stage or beyond. 

LIBERATION IN SPECIALLY DEVISED CARS. 

Two devices for liberating in deep water have been tried out this 
past year. One of these is a covered box weighted with stones, and 
with numerous large holes bored in the sides near the bottom. On 
the outside of the box strips of wood wider than the diameter of the 



124 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

holes are nailed over the holes in such a way as to leave a crack on the 
lower side of the strip large enough for the lobsters to get through 
and yet too narrow to allow fish to get in. As these strips are nailed 
only on the outside, the holes are left the entire size on the inside, and 
thus can readily be found by the young lobsters. The lobsters are 
then placed in the box, which is covered, sunk to the bottom, and left 
for a day or two. In this length of time the lobsters have gradually 
worked out of the box through the numerous holes. 

The second and better method is to construct a wooden box with 
a tight cover and with the bottom made of galvanized screening 
eight meshes to the inch. This screen is fastened three inches up 
from the lower edges of the sides. This allows the sides to project 
three inches below the bottom of the car and consequently the car 
may sink a little way into a soft bottom and still leave the screen a 
little higher than the mud. The mesh of the screen is then spread 
open in a number of places so as to leave holes large enough to permit 
the lobsters to crawl out. In lowering the car the inrush of water 
keeps the lobsters away from the holes and when the car rests on the 
bottom an inclosed place is formed under the screen between the pro- 
jecting sides. Within this inclosure the lobsters, after they crawl out, 
can burrow in the ocean bed unmolested by fish. The car can usually 
be removed at the end of twenty-four hours. 

11. LIBERATION OF THE EGG LOBSTERS. 

After the eggs are hatched from the hen lobsters a copper tag with 
a serial number and the words " Return to the R. I. Fish Commis- 
sion" is often fastened securely with fine wire to the lobster's beak. 
(Plate XXIV.) Then, after the length and other data of interest have 
been recorded, they are liberated at various places in the Bay. The 
tags of those caught are returned by the lobstermen, with a record of 
the date and place captured. Considerable information is thus col- 
lected in regard to the migration of the lobsters, and, since the lobster 
in molting casts off the tag together with the old shell, some data is 




Plate XXIV.— Method of tagging a lobster. 



APPENDIX. 125 

obtained in regard to the length of time after the eggs are hatched 
before molting. 

Another way in which liberated lobsters have been marked at Wick- 
ford has been to punch holes in one or more flippers of the tail. As 
there are five flippers the lobsters may be marked in a large number of 
different ways. 

12. CONDITIONS MOST ESSENTIAL FOR THE LOCATION OF A REARING 

PLANT. 

The experience of the past ten seasons in the operation of the plant 
at Wickford has made it evident that for the proper location of a 
station for rearing lobsters, two conditions especially must be sought. 
These conditions are quiet water and warm water. It is not essen- 
tial in the least to have the station near the place where egg lobsters 
are obtained most abundantly, for the lobsters may be shipped with 
little injury. Shelter from storms and ocean swells is obviously a 
very important factor. 

The plant described above, though evidently but a skeleton struc- 
ture, is nevertheless capable of withstanding quite a heavy sea. It 
has been subjected to some of the worst storms for years along the 
coast and rode them out uninjured. The paddles ran in good order, 
until in the midst of the storm the engine was shut clown as a measure 
of precaution. The seas often ran so high that many fry were swept 
out of the cars. The greater the protection afforded by the location 
however, the less danger will there be of accident. 

The temperature of the water is of paramount importance in order 
to obtain the best results. Although it is possible to rear lobsters 
with some success in cold water, the best results will be obtained with 
water at a temperature of 65° to 75° F. This higher temperature 
results in a more rapid development of the lobsters. This more 
rapid development results, first, in a reduction of the expenses of 
operating the plant, because of the less time required ; and second, in 
a greater proportion of fry reared to the fourth stage, because in the 



126 COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISHERIES. 

shorter time there is less chance for death from cannibalism, parasites, 
and injury. 

13. COST OF A REARING PLANT. 

The estimated cost of the simplest possible plant, consisting of 
24 rearing boxes, capable of turning out 600,000 lobsterlings, is 
follows : 



3. H. P. Engine 

Scow 200 

4 floats 300 

Gearing 700 

Rearing boxes 320 

Miscellaneous fixtures 100 

Total $1,800 

In some localities this might vary from the above more or less, 
according to the advantage for securing the material. 

The running expenses of such a plant in a favorable locality would 
not be far from $3 per thousand lobsterlings reared; this includes 
gasoline, food for the fry, and labor; but does not include the cost of 
egg lobsters. The cost of operation in 1910, at Wickforcl, was less 
than $2 per thousand. 

14. RESULTS OBTAINED. 

A number of good results have been obtained at Wickford by the 
use of the method described above. Among these may be mentioned : 

From a counted lot of 10,000 fry less than one day old, 6,946 
fourth stage lobsters were reared. Very often a percentage as high 
as forty or forty-eight per cent, has been obtained. In nature prob- 
ably not more than one in a thousand reaches this stage. 

From the eggs of one egg lobster 7,465 fourth stage lobsters were 
reared. This corresponds closely to 40 per cent, of the number of 
the eggs. 



APPENDIX. 



127 



Total Number of Fourth and Fifth Stage Lobsters Reared Each Year Since 1900. 



IV. 



1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
1903 . 
1905. 
1906. 
1907. 
1908. 
1909. 
1910. 



Total . 



*3,425 
8,974 
27,300 
13,500 
103,572 
189,384 
294,896 
322,672 
178,542 
511,274 



1,704,136 



24,800 
4,900 
5,481 



28,372 



63,553 



*A11 of the figures were obtained by actual count and were not estimated. 



APPENDIX C. 



TITLES OF SPECIAL PAPERS PUBLISHED IN THE ANNUAL 
REPORTS OF THE COMMISSIONERS OF INLAND FISH- 
ERIES OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND. 



1. Mead, A. D. The Starfish. (First paper.) Twenty-eighth Annual Report. 1898. 

2. Mead, A. D. The Starfish. (Second paper.) Twenty-ninth Annual Report. 1899. 

3. Tower, R. W. Improvements in the Methods of Preparation of Fish for Shipment. 

Twenty-ninth Annual Report. 1899. 

4. Bumpus, H. C. The Extension of the Commercial Fisheries of the State. Twenty-ninth 

Annual Report. 1899. 

5. Kellog, J. L. The Life History of the Common Clam. Twenty-ninth Annual Report. 

1899. 

6. Mason, N. R. A List of the Diatoms Found in the Water over the Clam, Mussel, and 

Oyster Beds in Narragansett Bay. Thirtieth Annual Report. 1900. 

7. Mead, A. D. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. Thirtieth Annual Report. 1900. 

8. Mead, A. D. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. (Second paper.) Thirty-first An- 

nual Report. 1901. 

9. Risseb, J. R. H. Habits and Life History of the Scallop. Thirty-first Annual Report. 1901. 

10. Mead, A. D. Habits and Growth of Young Lobsters and Experiments in Lobster Cul- 

ture. Thirty-first Annual Report. 1901. 

11. Mead, A. D. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. (Third paper.) Thirty-second An- 

nual Report. 1902. 

12. Mead, A. D. Habits and Growth of Young Lobsters and Experiments in Lobster Cultures 

(Second paper.) Thirty-second Annual Report. 1902. 

13. Mead, A. D. and Williams, L. W. Habits and Growth of the Lobster and Experiment. 

in Lobster Culture. (Third paper.) Thirty-third Annual Report. 1903. 

14. Mead, A. D. and Barnes, E. W. Observations on the Soft-shelled Clam. (Fourth paper.) 

Thirty-third Annual Report. 1903. 

15. Mead, A. D. and Barnes, E. W. Observations on the Soft-shell Clam. (Fifth paper.) 

Thirty-fourth Annual Report. 1904. 

16. Barnes, E. W. Preliminary Inquiry into the Natural History of the Paddler Crab (Calli- 

nectes hastatus) with Remarks on the Soft-shell Crab Industry of Rhode Island. 
Thirty-fourth Annual Report. 1904. 

17. Mead, A. D. Experiments in Lobster Culture. (Fourth paper.) Thirty-fourth Annual 

Report. 1904. 

18. Mead, A. D. Experiments in Lobster Culture. (Fifth paper.) Thirty-fifth Annual 

Report. 1905. 

19. Hadley, P. B. Changes in Form and Color in Successive Stages of the American Lobste 

Thirty-fifth Annual Report. 1905. 

20. Emmel, V. E. The Regeneration of Lost Parts in the Lobster. Thirty-fifth Annual 

Report. 1905. 

21. Tract, H. C. A List of the Fishes of Rhode Island. Plates I-XII. Thirty-sixth Annual 

Report. 1906. 

22. Tracy, H. C. The Common Fishes of the Herring Family. Plates VII-XII. Thirty- 

sixth Annual Report. 1906. 



140 APPENDIX. 

23. Barnes, E W. Methods of Protecting and Propagating the Lobster, with a Brief Out- 

line of its Natural History. Plates XIII-XXVI and XXVIII, XXXI, XXXII, 

XXXVI. Thirty-sixth Annual Report. 1906. 

24. Hadlet, P. B. Regarding the Rate of Growth of the American Lobster. Plates XXVI- 

XXXVII, and XL. Thirty-sixth Annual Report. 1906. 

25. Hadlet, P. B. Observations on Some Influences of Light upon the Larval and Early 

Adolescent Stages of Homarus Americanus. Plates XXXVIII-XL. Thirty-sixth 
Annual Report. 1906. 

27. Emmel, V. E. The Relation of Regeneration to the Molting Process in the Lobster, 

Plates XL-XLT. Thirty-sixth Annual Report. 1906. 

28. Tracy, H. C. The Fishes of Rhode Island, III. The Fishes of the Mackerel Family, 

Thirty-seventh Annual Report. 

29. Tract, H. C. A List of Rare Fishes taken in Rhode Island in the year 1906. Thirty- 

seventh Annual Report- 

30. Williams, Dr. Leonard W. List of the Rhode Island Copepoda, Phyllopoda, and Os- 

tracoda, with new species of Copepoda. Thirty-seventh Annual Report. 

31. Emmel: V. E. Regenerated and Abnormal Appendages in the Lobster. Thirty-seventh 

Annual Report. 

32. Williams, L. W. The Stomach of the Lobster and the Food of Larval Lobsters. Thirty- 

seventh Annual Report. 

33. Hadlet, P. B. Regarding the Behavior of the Larval and Early Adolescent Stages of the 

American Lobster. Thirty-seventh Annual Report. 

34. Barnes, E. W. Lobster Culture at Wickford, Rhode Island, in 1906. Thirty-seventh 

Annual Report. 

35. Barnes, E. W. Lobster Culture at Wickford, Rhode Island in 1907. Thirty-eighth An- 

nual Report, 1907. 

36. Tract, H. C. The Fishes of Rhode Island V. The Flatfishes. Thirty-eighth Annual 

Report, 1907. 

37. Tract, H- C. The Fishes of Rhode Island VI. A Description of two young Specimens 

of Squiteague (Cynoscion regalia) with Notes on the Rate of their Growth. Thirty- 
eighth Annual Report, 1907. 

38. Emmel, Victor E. The Problem of Feeding in Artificial Lobster Culture. Thirty-eighth 

Annual Report, 1907. 

39. Tract, H. C. The Fishes of Rhode Island VII. The Life History of the Common Eel. 

Thirty-ninth Annual Report 1908. 

40. Sullivan, W. E. Notes on the Crabs Found in NarragansetfBay. Thirty-ninth An- 

nual Report, 1908. 

41. Mead, A. D. A Method of Fish Culture and of Transporting Live Fishes. Thirty-ninth 

Annual Report, 1908. (Paper Presented Before the Fourth International Fishery 
Congress, Washington, 1908, and Awarded Prize of Two Hundred Dollars in Gold.) 

42. Mead, A. D. A Method of Lobster Culture. Thirty-ninth Annual Report, 1908. 

(Paper Presented Before the International Fishery Congress Washington, 1908, and 
Awarded Prize of One Hundred Dollars in Gold.) 

43. Tract, H. C. Annotated List of Fishes Known to Inhabit the Waters of Rhode Island. 

Fortieth Annual Report, 1909. 

44. Barnes, E. W. Notes on the Spring and Summer Fishing in Deep Water off Newport, 

During the Years 1905-1909. Fortieth Annual Report, 1909. 

45. Barnes, E. W. The Plague of Sea Clams at Easton's Beach, Newport. Fortieth 

Annual Report, 1909. 

46. Hadlet, P. B. Additional Notes Upon the Development of the Lobster. Fortieth 

Annual Report, 1909. 

47. Barnes, E. W. Revised Edition of Methods of Protecting and Propagating the Lob- 

ster, with a Brief Outline of its Natural History. Plates IV-XXIV. Forty-first An- 
nual Report, 1910. 



LB N '12 



